Method of and apparatus for molding reducers for fibrous conduits



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,533

H. PARKER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING REDUCERS FOR FIBROUSCONDUITS Filed June 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l 0000 00 coo H. PARKERMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING REDUCERS FOR FIBROUS CONDUITS FiledJune 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I D ooo 9 1 2: :21; i z; z: 2:: 2 1: 2 :22/ O O O 0 J; m w

/6 Q 41/ @7 l -m 5 \L' MT, J6 T 2 4004 4/07 Jim/m4 Patented ca. 30,1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nowann ruuma, or BERLIN, nnw namrsnma, ASSIGNOR T BROWN COMPANY,

' or BERLIN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A oonronarron or name.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING REDUCERS FOR FIBROUS CONDUITS.

Application filed June 11, 1925.- Serial No. 36,433.

This invention relates to reducers for conduits, and more articularly totapered reducers made of hbrous material for use in connection withconduitsor tubes of the same material. Such tubes or conduits areusually produced by winding paper or wood pulp on a mandrel, thenremoving the pulp from the mandrel in the form of a wet or green tube,and thoroughly drying it. When used as a conduit for electrical wiring,or as a water pipe, the fibrous walls of the tubes are thoroughlywaterproofed as by impregnating or saturating them with pitc or othersuitable aterial.

The primary objectof this invention is to provide a method and apparatusfor the production of tafpered reducers for use in connection with brousconduits in an expedient manner. Briefly stated, this object is attainedby placing the desired length of green tube on a form having the desiredreducing taper, and while maintaining it in a pulpous condition,pressing and shaping it to the form. The invention, including otherobjects and advantages incident thereto, will best be understood fromthe following description thereof, when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional View through theapparatus in a position to receive a green Figure 2 shows a similar viewwith the apparatus in a position to mold or shape .a tube.

Figure 3 represents a plan view of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the forming or molding apparatus may beconsidered as consisting of a lower and upper half,-the lower half,generally speaking, constituting the form, and the upper half theformer. The form consists of a frustro-conical hollow member 3 having apluralityof holes or perforations 2, regularly distributed over itssides and which communicate with its hollow interior. The form isprovided at its lower end with an annular ledge or step 4 for supportingthe green tube undergoing the shaping or molding treatment. Below theledge 4 it is provided with a circular flange 5 serving as a support forthe upper half of the apparatus and having lugs 6 protruding from itssides. The form rests on a base which is complemental to its lowerportion. The base comprises a frustro-conical portion 8, servin as aottomfor the form 3 and making a goo tight fit with the lower interiorsides of the form below the perforations 2, and a flanged portlon 10.with lugs 12 at its sides, matlrg the flange 5 and the lugs 6 of theform. The form 3 and the basemay be secured to a suit able table orfoundation 14 by common fastenmg means, as by bolts 15 passed throughthe complemental lugs 6 and 12.

The upper or forming half of the apparatus comprises a cylindrical cover-fitt1ng overthe form and above the ledge \1;, the intenor s1de wall ofwhich is lined with a tube or diaphragm 18 of soft expansible sheetrubber secured thereto near its upper and lower ends, as by rubbercement. The lower end of the cover has a flanged portion 21 and carriesa rubber ring 25 which seals the cover to the flange 5. The top of thecover is also provided with a rubber ring 26, which may rest on the topof the form 3, and serve as a seal therebetween for a purposehereinafter described. The diaphragm 18 may be deformed to assume theshape of the'for'm, by introducing fluid under pressure between thediaphragm and the interior side wall of the cover. In thus assuming theshape of the form, the diaphragm 18 presses the green tube exteriorlyuniformly along its length against, the form, so that the tube assumesthe shape of the tapered form. For theintroduction of fluid between thediaphragm and the interior wall, a conduit communicates with a hole 31extending through a lower portion of the cover 20 outwardly of thediaphragm. This conduit is connected to the horizontal end 32 of athree-branch connector 311, the vertical branch 33 of-which is connectedto a fluid supply line 34, and the other horizontal branch 35 to a fluidoutlet line 36, both lines being provided respectively with valves, as

with the plug valves 37 and 38. Any suitable,

fluid under pressure, such as'water, may be introdnced'between thediaphragm 18 and the interior side wall of the cover through the supplyline 30. The ,water introduced may be discharged by closing the valve 37and opening the valve 38, and is facilitated by establishingcommunication between the atmosphere and the space between the diaphragmand the side wall of the cover. Communication with the atmosphere ismade through a conduit 40 communicating with a hole 41 extending throughthe upper portion of the cover 20 and provided with a plu valve 43. Inorder to open the valves 38 an 43 and close the valve 37 simultaneously,the stems of the valves are respectively provided with arms 45, 46, and47, pivotally connected to links 48 and 49, an upward movement of thelinks 48 and 49 closing the valves 38 and 43 and opening the valve 37thus causing the diaphragm 18 to be expanded, and a downward movement ofthe links closing the valve 37 and opening the valves 43 and 38, thusdis-- charging the water and permittlng the diaphragm 18 to assumecylindrical" orm.

It uently occurs that the green tube is hard an unmoldable, so thatprovision must be made to at the tube in a formative or pulpouscondition by the addition of water thereto before ressure is applied bythe diaphragm 18 in t e shaping or forming operation. For thispurpose,the interior 1 of the form communicates through the bottom 8 with aconduit 16 connected to the vertical end 50 of a three-branch connector51. The horizontal end 53 of the branch connector is connected with aconduit 55 supplied with either hot water or steam, and the othervertical end 56 is connected with an outlet conduit 58 for the dischargeof the water or steam from the form 3 after the green tube has beensufiiciently softened. The conduits 55 and 58 are provided respectivelywith suitable valves, as the plug valves 60 and 61. In order to operatethese valves simultaneously, the stems of the valves 60 and 61 arepivotally connected by arms 62 and 63 to a link 64, a downward movementof the link closing the valve 61 and opening the valve 60, thus allowingsteam or hot water under sufficient pressure to be introduced into theinterior of the form, and

an upward movement of the link closin the valve 60 and opening the valve61, thus a owing the water or steam to be discharged from the interior 1of the form 3. To facilitate a rapid discharge of the steam or hot watermm the interior 1 of the form 3, after the tube has been suflicientlymoistened and softened, the interior is opened to the atmos here throu han opening extending throng the top of the form 3 and communicating witha lateral opening 71 through the upper portion of the cover 20, to which1s attached a conduit 73 valved as at 74 and communicating with theatmosphere. The valve 74 is closed simultaneously with or prior to thedownward movement of the'lever 64 to introduce moisture into theinterior of the form, and is opened after the tube has been suflicientlsoftened for the forming operation, simu taneously with or after theupward movement of the lever 64, to facilitate rapid dischar e of themoistening agent from the interior 0 the form. Rubber rings '25 and 26,respectively,

- at the top, and lower ends of the cover serve as seals and prevent anyhot water or steam introduced into the interior ofthe form fromescaping.

In operation, the former 20 is first raised to a position as shown inFigure 1, the conduits 37 and 38 being connected respectively toflexible hose connections '80 and 81, which allows the upward anddownward movement of the former into and out of operative osition overthe form. Gheesecloth 85, w ich prevents the sticking of the tube to theform,

quently by the former or upper half of the mold. If a conduit 87however, is equal to or greater than the diameter of the base of theIorm, 3, it is formed or molded in entirety by the former,-that is, bythe uniform pressure exerted on its exterior by the diaphragm 18, aswill be described. The former is then lowered into the position shown inFigure 2, the lower end 21 resting on the flange 5 of the base portionof the form, and it is so secured. The arm 64 is lowered, steam or waterbeing introduced through the valve 60 and pipe 16 into the interior 1 ofthe form, the steam or water passing through the perforations andcheesecloth into the pulp conduit 87 and softening it or placing it in amore formative or pulgous condition. The harder the green con uit is,the longer it is subjected to the water or steam treatment. The tube,having been sufliciently softened, is ready to be molded, and themoistening agent is allowed to flow out from the form through the pipe16 by raising the arm 64,-the air valve in the pipe 7 3 also beingopened to allow air at atmospheric pressure to assist in the removal ofthemoistening agent from the form; The lever 48 is raised, the waterunder pressure passin throughJhe conduit 30 and forcing the ru berdiaphragm 18 around the tube against the form, causing the tube toassume a tapered shape, and squeezin out any excess moisture therefromthrought e perforations 3. The reducer now having been formed, the lever48 is moved downwardly, the valves 43 and 38 being 0 ened, and the valve37 closed, thus allowing t e water to escape through the pipe 30. Theupper half of the mold is then raised to its inoperative position, andthe operator sps the upper edges of the cheesecloth and ifts the reducerfrom the mold.

The hereinbefore described method I of molding reducers yields a productwhich is similar in characteristics to the conduits with which it isused; that is, the reducers are (as indicated by' strong and theirconstituent fibers are densely compacted and inter-felted. Subsequent tothe molding operation, the wet reducers may be dried and treated with awaterproofing compound, and they may be turned and their ends formedinto any one of a Variety of joints, by suitable instrumentalities.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of this invention, itshould be evident to those skilled in the art that it is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without departing from its spirit orscope as defined by the appended claims.

What 1 claim is:

1. A me hod of producing a tapered fibrous article, unich comprisesplacing a fibrous tube over a frustro-conical form, wetting said tube soas to soften it, applying pressure on the wall of said tube so'that itassumes the shape of the form, removing the tapered tube from the form,and drying it.

2. Apparatus for forming fibrous reducers, comprising a hollow formover. which a tubular fibrous conduit may be positioned and havingperforations distributed over its sides communicating with its hollowinterior; means for introducing moisture into the interior of said formfor wetting and softening the fibrous conduit; means for discharging themoisture from the interior of said form; a cover adapted to be placedover said form; a flexible rubber diaphragm within the interior wall ofsaid cover and secured thereto at its edges; and means for causing saiddiaphragm to expand so as to press the tube against the form.

3. Apparatus for forming fibrous reducers, comprising a form over whicha tubular fibrous conduit may be positioned, a cover adapted to beplaced over said form, an expansible rubber diaphragm covering theinterior wall of said cover and secured thereto at its edges, and meansfor causing said diaphragm to expand and press the tube against theform.

ehApparatus for producing tapered reducers, comprising a form over whicha fibrous tube may be positioned, means for wetting the tube so as torender it somewhat soft and pulpous, and means for applying a uniformpressure to the wall of said tube while it is soft, in a manner suchthat it assumes the shape of the form.

5. Apparatus for producing tapered reducers, comprising a form overwhich a fibrous tube may 'be positioned, a cover fitting over saidform,a flexible rubber diaphragm overlying the interior wall of said cover,and means for introducing fluid between the wall of said cover and thediaphragm whereby said diaphragm expands and uniformly presses said tubeagainst said form.

6. A mold for forming tapered reducers, comprising a hollow form overwhich a tubularfibrous conduit may be positioned and having apluralityof perforations distributed over its sides communicating with itsinterior; means for introducing moisture into the interior of said form;means for discharging the same from the interior of said form; a coverfor said form provided with an expan- I sible diaphragm secured at itsedges thereto, and normally resting against its interior wall; means forintroducing fluid between the zs wall of said cover and said diaphragmto cause the deformation of the latter against ,tureoutlet pipesconnected to'said conduit;

means for opening the inlet pipe while closing the outlet pipe andopening the outlet pipe while closing the inlet pipe, means forestablishing communication between the interior of said form and theatmosphere for facilitating the discharge of moisture from the form, acover for said form provided with an expansible rubber diaphragm securedat its edges thereto and normally resting against its interior wall;means for introducing fluid between said cover and said rubber dia- Wphragm to cause the expansion of the latter against the form, wherebythe tube assumes the shape of said form, and means for discharging saidfiuid to allow said diaphragm to contract against said cover.

8. A mold for forming tapered reducers, comprising a hollow form overwhich a. tubular fibrous conduit may be positioned and having aplurality of perforations distributed over its sides communicating withits interior, 10 a conduit communicating with the hollow interiorportion of said form, moisture inlet and moisture outlet pipes connectedto said conduit; means for opening the inlet pipe while closing theoutlet pipe and opening the outlet H5 pipe while closing the inlet pipe;means for establishing communication between the in terior of said formand the atmosphere for facilitating the discharge of moisture from theform, a cover for said form provided with a flexible rubber diaphragmsecured at its edges thereto and normally resting against its interiorwall, a conduit extending through the lower end of said cover to saidrubber diaphragm, fluid inlet and fluid outlet pipes connected to saidconduit, a pipe communicating with the atmosphere extending through thecover to the rubber diaphragm and means for opening the fluid inlet pipewhile closing the air and fluid outlet pipes to cause the expansion ofthe tube against the form, and for opening the air and fluid out-letpipes while closing the fluid inlet pipe to cause the discharge of thefluid and the contraction of the rubber tube.

9. A mold'for forming tapered reducers, comprising a hollow form overwhich a. tubular fibrous conduit may be positioned, and having aplurality of perforations distributed over its sides communicating withits interior; means for introducing moisture into the interior'of saidform; means for discharging the same from the interior of said form; acylindrical cover for said form, provided with a flexible rubberdiaphragm secured thereto at its edges and normally resting against itsinterior wall; a conduit extendin through the lower end of said cover tosaid rubber diaphragm; fluid inlet and fluid outlet pipes connected tosaid conduit; an air pipe communicating with the atmosphere, extendingthrough the cover to the rubber. diaphragm; and means for opening thefluid inlet pipe while closing the air and fluid outlet pipes to 2 causethe expansion of the tube against the form, and for opening the air andfluid outlet comprises windin a web of pulp on itself into cylindricaltubu ar form(i deforming the tube while wet into tapere form, and dryingthe tapered tube.

11. A method which'comprises windin a web of pulp on itself into.cylindrical tub ar form, placing the-tube while wet over afrustro-conical form, pressing the tube against the form, removing thetapered tube thus produced from the form, and drying it.

12. A method which comprises windin a web of pulp omitself intocylindrical tubu ar form, applyin a substantially uniform pressure on te will of the tube to cause the tube to be crowded inwardl a ainst theform, removing the. tapered tu e t us produced from the form, drying it,and impregnating it with waterproofing material.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. HOWARD PARKER.

